Build Automation

Build Automation using Templates

One of the nice features added to Ant 1.6 wassupport for the import of template build files. The Depot system comes with a default template that handles the establishment of a number of tasks that are project-aware. Using information about a target project these tasks can handle the complete automation of code-base preparation, compilation, packaging, testing and publication to the system cache.

build.xml

Using a template we can simplify the build instructions down to the following:

<project name="demo" default="install" xmlns:x="antlib:dpml.tools">

  <x:import uri="local:template:dpml/tools/standard"/>

</project>

Building the project ..

$ cd central\tutorials\tooling\automation
$ build

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
demo#SNAPSHOT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

init:

prepare:
[x:prepare] Created dir: D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target
[x:prepare] Created dir: D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target\build\main
[x:prepare] Copying 1 file to D:\dpml\central\tooling\automation\target\build\main

build:
    [javac] Created dir: D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target\classes\main
    [javac] Compiling 1 source file to D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target\classes\main

package:
      [jar] Created dir: D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target\deliverables\jars
      [jar] Building jar: D:\dpml\tutorials\tooling\automation\target\deliverables\jars\demo-SNAPSHOT.jar
      [jar] Creating md5 checksum

test:

install:
[x:install] Copying 2 files to D:\system\dpml\data\cache

BUILD SUCCESSFUL
Total time: 3 seconds

Summary

In the above example we have demonstrated an ability to completely automate the production of a jar file simply through the use of a template build file and a project codebase that follows a standard layout convention. In this case we are using a template provided by the Depot system (which is used to build the majority of DPML projects). The inclusion of a template is a basic Ant capability and you could easily write alternative templates based on pure ant or your own custom tasks. Generally speaking when you increase the level of build automation you typically reduce build related errors and more importantly you reduce the overall build maintenance overhead.